POINTS, a dual space-based astrometric optical interferometer with nominal baseline length of 2 meters and measurement accuracy of 5 microarcseconds, which could be a powerful new multidisciplinary research tool is introduced. The instrument, including the laser gauges which are a central aspect of the instrument, are described. The design of the spacecraft, and the mission operations, including the bias determination and correction, are discussed. As a candidate for the Astrometric Interferometry Mission (AIM) mission, POINTS could open new areas of astrophysical research and change the nature of the questions being asked in some old areas. As a candidate for the TOPS-1 (Towards Other Planetary Systems) mission, it could be used to perform a definitive search for extra solar planetary systems, either finding and characterizing a large number of them or showing that they are far less numerous than now believed. POINTS, which is small, agile, and mechanically simple, would be the first of a new class of powerful instruments in space and would prove the technology for the larger members of that class to follow.


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    Title :

    Space-based astrometric optical interferometry with POINTS


    Contributors:


    Publication date :

    1992-12-01


    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English


    Keywords :


    Space-Based Astrometric Optical Interferometry with POINTS

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